#71
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A Sustrans dilemma
Ambrose Nankivell wrote:
Also, I'd suggest legislation that allowed confiscation of the bikes, but that may be difficult. Supposedly this is already in place. Certainly the Avon & Somerset Constabulary say that they will confiscate the machines of anyone caught riding a motorbike on a cyclepath, but I've never heard of it actually happening. A few well targetted ASBOs would certainly make a propoganda difference, though. I like that idea. -- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine |
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#72
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A Sustrans dilemma
Mike Sales wrote:
Roads go everywhere. Except where they don't. For example, the shortcut through the Avon Valley taken by the Bath-Bristol path. Thanks to the cyclepath, my daily commute is 2 miles shorter than the shortest road alternative. -- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine |
#73
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A Sustrans dilemma
Danny Colyer writed in news:dfkr3a$dfu$2
@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk: Mike Sales wrote: Roads go everywhere. Except where they don't. For example, the shortcut through the Avon Valley taken by the Bath-Bristol path. Thanks to the cyclepath, my daily commute is 2 miles shorter than the shortest road alternative. And the NCN Route 6 between Market Harborough and Northampton, which is more direct and has less hills than the alternative on-road route.(OK you may not like the surface, but it's very ridable on a standard touring bike). Sustrans could do worse than establishing themselves as a body that 'kitemarks' cycle routes to encourage the better facilities and disencourage les autres. With groups of experienced cyclists they could surely help weed out the worst of the farcilies. Mike - Leicester |
#74
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A Sustrans dilemma
in message , Danny Colyer
') wrote: tom wrote: the Bristol - Bath path is a very busy one, with traffic flowing in both directions. The Bristol-Bath path was created by Cyclebag, before it became Sustrans. I believe their goals have changed since then - perhaps not by a huge amount, but by enough to be significant. The contrast with some of the newer paths is very noticeable. Although I think many of the problems with Sustrans routes are due more to local authorities than to Sustrans, still ISTM that Sustrans have fallen into the trap of putting quantity before quality when providing cycle routes. Sustrans are prepared to endorse - to put their seal of approval on - local authority schemes which are clearly unsuitable or actively dangerous, and thus Sustrans are culpable. If Sustrans insisted on routes being brought up to an acceptable standard before being endorsed, and if Sustrans were prepared to remove endorsement from routes which aren't adequately maintained, then they might have some positive role to play. As it is their routes aren't even consistently suitable for the 'children and beginners' whom their apologists claim justify their segregated paths. And their habit of referring to "traffic free" routes really irritates me, especially when routes such as the Bath-Bristol are often heaving with cycle and pedestrian traffic. Indeed. -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ [ This .sig intentionally left blank ] |
#75
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A Sustrans dilemma
On Tue, 06 Sep 2005 20:06:13 +0000, Mike the Unshavable wrote:
Sustrans could do worse than establishing themselves as a body that 'kitemarks' cycle routes to encourage the better facilities and disencourage les autres. With groups of experienced cyclists they could surely help weed out the worst of the farcilies. Except that that would eliminate 75% of their "off-road" [1] routes where I live, and the 10,000 mile claim would take a severe battering. [1] Around here it normally means "Alongside the road, dismount at every junction and take your life in your hands at pub, farm shop, garden centre, etc, driveways.". Mike |
#77
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A Sustrans dilemma
Simon Bennett wrote:
wrote: connection refused...... It's not to do with the non-standard port (no filtering here or at home), but I haven't been able to see Simon's links for a while now. I edited the port so it used 80. Saw the image then. Maybe BT are filtering port 8180? -- Chris Know thyself. If you need help, call the C.I.A. |
#78
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A Sustrans dilemma
"tom" wrote in message news My first touring ride was on a Sustrans path (Bristol to Bath), just to be pedantic, the Bristol Bath path was built by Cyclebag, when Sustrans wasn't even a twinkle in John Grimshaw's eye. I had an awful mountain bike and all my gear in a rucksack to camp overnight. I had an excellent time and I was hooked, didn't look back. I doubt I'd have had such an excellent time if I'd gone for a ride down the A4., wobbling all over the road. But on the other hand, there are many thousands of cyclists, touring and otherwise, who didn't start off on a Sustrans path, including me. While many Sustrans paths may not be suitable for racing, I don't think that is entirely surprising, given that road cyclists like umm roads. IME none of the Sustrans paths are suitable for racing, but at least some of them are suitable for road bikes. If you have to have a mountain bike to ride these paths then they've failed. As far as I can see, Sustrans is about creating a movement, helping people to make their first steps into cycling and then supporting them To quote the Sustrans mantra: "an organisation dedicated to providing paths for pedestrians, the disabled, horseriders and cyclists." Sustrans supported BANES council's proposal to allow horses on the Bristol-Bath path, never mind that it is very busy and not wide enough, and that all the cycling and pedestrian organisations opposed it, and the police. I can't comment for other parts of the country but down here, the Bristol - Bath path is a very busy one, with traffic flowing in both directions. It won't be quite so busy when the horses are allowed on it, with Sustrans connivance. Many people have told me that they won't be allowing their children on it any more because of the danger and the horse ****. Personally, if the quality of the path is good, I'd far rather be away from the road, for reasons of safety and enjoyment. You are misinformed. Cycling on shared use paths is much more dangerous than riding on the road. On the whole, I am a big fan of Sustrans though. If you don't want to cycle on their network, don't, but certainly don't complain that they are inadequate, unskilled, not interested in their jobs or otherwise, because that is clearly disrespectful to an organisation which is trying to encourage the use of the bicycle, and are very alone in this quest. You are entitled to your view. Please allow that other people are entitled to theirs. |
#79
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A Sustrans dilemma
"Danny Colyer" wrote in message ... Mike Sales wrote: Roads go everywhere. Except where they don't. For example, the shortcut through the Avon Valley taken by the Bath-Bristol path. Thanks to the cyclepath, my daily commute is 2 miles shorter than the shortest road alternative. So Bath and Bristol are connected by road. I would wager that the road is quicker. That bikes are slower is often given as a reason why bike commuting is less attractive, and if the bike is being used as transport, time is often a factor. Mike Sales |
#80
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A Sustrans dilemma
"Mike the Unshavable" wrote in message Mike Sales wrote: Roads go everywhere. And the NCN Route 6 between Market Harborough and Northampton, which is more direct and has less hills than the alternative on-road route.(OK you may not like the surface, but it's very ridable on a standard touring bike). So there is a road route. Faster I would guess. There was and perhaps still is, a proposal to use the Llangefni to Amlwch rail track, recently closed as a freight line, as a cycle route. It would certainly be flatter, and perhaps shorter, but Anglesey has a lovely network of little used lanes between the two. Only an extreme motor-phobic would waste money here. There are much more intimidating roads on the island, but a real solution would involve inconveniencing motorists by making them slow down. The Council can pose as cyclist friendly by putting in crap facilities with Sustrans endorsement, whilst making no real difference which might help people to use bikes for everyday trips. Mike Sales |
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